New England Chapter No. 8 NAWCC

EARLY SUMMER MEETING, SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2005

Worcester Holiday Inn
500 Lincoln St., Worcester MA

Highlights by Burt Kassap and Dick Trepp

Chapter 8's long snow delayed January meeting, finally came to fruition on an exceedingly hot June 12th at the Worcester Holiday Inn. Along with a mart, silent auction, and a raffle, there were two fine workshops, and a luncheon program that captured everyone's interest. All three programs were offered by Chapter 8 members.

Joe Brown presented a program on pendulums-concepts, functions, and practical applications He superbly covered just about everything you ever wanted to know about pendulums. Joe always has a well-conceived handout that emphasizes the important facts complete with illustrations. Using a simple pendulum compared to a practical pendulum, he dispelled many erroneous beliefs that clock collectors have about pendulums. He discussed the affect of the pendulum rod, length, bob, and suspension spring on timing the clock. The isochronisms of a pendulum was also discussed and shown to be a function of many things. Type and length of arc, temperature, barometric conditions, friction, and gravity all play a part in accurate timing. And finally, a brief explanation and chart on how to find the length of a missing pendulum. There were many questions from an enthusiastic audience after the formal presentation.

Jack Kurdzionak gave a most informative presentation on the salient features of a modern day watch repair shop that services the high quality Swiss watches that are so prevalent in the American watch market today. The primary focus is on cleanliness: on the worktable, the walls, and the floors. Access to storage parts and materials must be housed separately, but easily available. Putting competence and special equipment aside, the workshop must prevent the accumulation of dust, (the watch's enemy) and provide a work environment so that the repairer can focus on his or her work with no distractions. This is the basic requirement to be accepted as an Authorized Representative of a major Swiss watch company, and this is certainly in evidence at Jack's repair shop in Stoneham MA.

Chapter 8 member, and a former president of the chapter, Bob Merrill, presented a most interesting illustrated slide luncheon program, He talked about the restoration of an historic street clock in Lowell, MA, from the standpoint of what it entailed, and the problems and solutions that were encountered. In 1914 Dudley Page erected a Seth Thomas street clock in Lowell. Over the years, neglect and vandalism took its toll. Finally, the clock became the property of the City of Lowell. In 1991, Bob, took on the project of managing the restoration. There was much research to be done, and part of the solutions came from examining a similar Seth Thomas that is in front of the NAWCC headquarters in Columbia, PA. By 1993, a plan of action was agreed upon, the clock was removed to an interior site, and many people and companies were utilized to complete the restoration. Finally, in 1994, the clock was returned to its original site, looking like it did in 1914. It is strikingly beautiful.

-- Burt Kassap and Dick Trepp

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EARLY SUMMER MEETING, SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2005

Worcester Holiday Inn
500 Lincoln St., Worcester MA
508-852-4000

Directions to Worcester Holiday Inn, Worcester, MA.
From the East:  Mass Pike 90. Take Exit 11A on to 495 North. Take Exit 25B onto 290 West. Take Exit 20 (Lincoln St.) Bear RIGHT off the ramp onto Lincoln St. The Holiday Inn will be at a set of lights about ½ mile on the left. Turn left at the lights to enter Inn driveway. There is a Dennys on that corner.

From the West:  Mass Pike (90), West: Take Exit 10 onto 290 East. Take Exit 21 (Plantation St.) Take a Left off the ramp, take a left at the first set of lights onto Lincoln St. At the next set of lights take a left to stay on Lincoln St. The Holiday Inn is about ½ mile on your right.

From the North:  I 93 South to 495 South-take Exit 25B onto 290 West. Take Exit 20 (Lincoln St.) Bear RIGHT off the ramp onto Lincoln St. The Holiday Inn will be at a set of lights about ½ mile on the left. Turn left at the lights to enter Inn driveway. There is a Dennys on that corner.

From the South:  I 95 North to I 295 North to 146 North to 290 East. Take Exit 21 (Plantation St.) Take a Left off the ramp; take a left at the first set of lights onto Lincoln St. At the next set of lights take a left to stay on Lincoln St. The Holiday Inn is about ½ mile on your right.

Registrations by June 4, 2005 are $19.
Registrations received after June 4, 2005 and "walk-ins" will be $25.
As always, registration includes your luncheon and is required for participation in any of the meeting activities.

MEETING SCHEDULE
7:30 AM Registration name tags available for those members who preregistered.
Registration table open for "walk-ins". Mart area open for set-up by table holders only.
8:00 AM Mart open; with closing at 11:45 A.M. for 12:00 Noon Luncheon.
(a watchman for Mart will be provided)
8:30 AM Silent Auction Table will run from 8:30 to 10:15A.M.
9:00 AM CLOCK PENDULUMS: Concepts, Functions, and Practical Applications - Joe Brown, former Chapter 8 President, NAWCC Fellow, AWI Certified Clockmaker, Corporator, Trustee and past conservator of clocks at the Willard House & Clock Museum, Trustee of Charles River Museum of Industry, past Pres. And Sec. Of the Grtr. Boston Watch and Clock Collectors. This is a must for those who have not attended in the past and always informative to the experienced clockmaker.
10:30 AM TWENTY FIRST CENTURY WATCHMAKING - Jack Kurdzionak, will discuss how a watch shop should appear and the equipment it should have in order to service currently produced quality Swiss watches; both mechanical and quartz . Jack, an AWCI certified watchmaker runs a watch and clock sales and service center, The Watchmaker in Stoneham, Mass. A former teacher and an alumni of the North Bennet St. School watchmaking course. Jack keeps up to date by attending classes at the ETA Training Center in Grenchen , Switzerland and at WOSTEP in Neuchtal. He's the immediate past Pres. of the AWCI and a Director.
11:45 Mart closes
12:00 Noon Luncheon
12:30 Luncheon Program:
We are pleased to have Bob Merrill presenting RESTORING A HISTORIC LOWELL STREET CLOCK, a task beyond most of us, Bob, with the support of his family, took on the challenge of restoring Page's clock which had been installed in 1914 in the Spring of 1991. Bob is a past Pres. of Chapter 8 and Chapter 89, AWCI Certified clockmaker and owns Kingston Time. He has also owned shops in Rockport and Andover, Mass.

The Silent Auction table (8: 30 to 10:15) - enables you to sell a few items without the need for a table:

Fill out a slip at the table with your minimum price you will accept for the item. Members can then write in their bids during the course of the auction.

The cost to you as a seller is only $3.00 PER ITEM. The charge is payable in advance and applies whether item sells or not.

AND
At the same table or at the registration table in the hall you can buy a ticket for the 50-50 raffle. YOU get 50% of the total pot and Chapter 8 benefits from the other half. $1.00 per ticket or three for $2.00.

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
It is both a privilege and a challenge for me to assume my newly elected position as President of Chapter 8. This Chapter has had a long and prestigious history of horological accomplishments in promoting educational workshops, mart activities and social events that are the goals stated in our Chapter Charter. It is my goal to increase the efforts to promote these activities to the benefit of our members. Recognizing the decline in membership and the competing effect of E-Bay, I will make a focused effort to expand our educational program, and attract more vendors to participate in our marts. This Chapter functions best when all interests of the members are served. This can best be achieved through your direct communication with the officers and directors who represent you. I hope to raise the level of enthusiasm of our members and I solicit your participation in our activities to help develop the growth of Chapter 8.
-- Burt Kassap

Suitcase Clock Repair Courses
Victor Kozakevich, an associate director of Chapter 8, will handle the NAWCC Suitcase Program. If you are interested, contact him at a meeting or call him at 617-491-4608. Contact by E-mail is vkozak@att.net.

Chapter Contacts:
If you any of you have a question or wish to contact someone in the chapter, get in touch with any of these people and they will get your message to the right person if they cannot help you.

President Burton Kassap
112 Bullough Park, Newtonville, MA 02460
617-332-0162
milbur@earthlink.net

1st Vice Pres. VACANT

2nd Vice Pres. Harold Lincoln
5 Ringbolt Road, Hingham, MA 02043
781-740-1190
hgyl@aol.com

Treasurer Wayne Paskerian
5 Warren St., Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-0113
winway2@worldnet.att.net

Secretary VACANT

Past President Dave Deutemiam
81 Kingman St., Lakeville, MA 02347
508-946-1082
davmardeut@tmlp.com

2007 Director Joe Brown, 7 Pheasant Ave. Sudbury, MA 01776 978-443-2284
brown07@rcn.com

2007 Director Larry Chelmow, 399 Chapman St., Canton, MA 02021 781-828-1626
chelmowl@yahoo.com

2007 Director Peter Nunes, 4 Hopkins Lane, Peace Dale, RI 02879 401-789-3639
peter.nunes@verizon.net

2009 Director Frank Menez, 2 Bernier St, Somersworth NH 03878 603-692-0499
fmenez@comcast.net

2009 Director Les Tyrala, 28 Curtis St. Quincy, MA 02169 617-479-2140
geoclock@msn.com

2009 Director Martin Cohen, 21 Dunbarton Rd, Belmont, MA 02478 617-484-8725
banjoengineer@aol.com

Associate Dir Victor Kozakevich, 44 Sherman St., Cambridge, MA 02138 617-491-4608
vkozak@att.net

Note the vacancies. We are in real need for volunteers in Chapter 8. How about the ladies? A look at the various chapter highlights in the Bulletin shows a very high percentage of Chapter Council volunteers are women. We have none. Ladies.... step forward.

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